A late first half burst not enough for MNUFC to close series in Seattle
With a spot in the second round on the line for Minnesota, the Loons headed to Seattle for another showdown with the Sounders at Lumen Field. Three first half goals later and it looked like Seattle secured the win before the half. Two stoppage time goals and all of the sudden the Loons were back in it. But that late first half burst wasn’t enough and Obed Vargas put the nail in the coffin in the 86th minute to force a game three in the series.
Both clubs came into Monday night’s clash looking very healthy with the only players missing the match due to injury were Seattle’s Paul Arriola & Pedro de la Vega. Minnesota came into the match with no personnel changes to their starting eleven, rather just shifting players around. Seattle made just one change with Danny Musovski jumping in for Paul Rothrock.
No changes to the Starting XI for #MNUFC, Yeboah is on the bench and the only true forward in the squad for the Loons.Single swap for the #Sounders with Musovski jumping in to replace Rothrock
— Northland Soccer Journal (@northlandsoccer.com) 2025-11-04T03:31:15.889Z
Coming off a nil-nil scoreline through regulation the Sounders immediately made sure that would not happen. 8 minutes in Obed Vargas snagged the opener, in what became a barn burner of a half. Just past the 20th minute Seattle struck another goal on a play that started with Cristian Roldán sending in a cross that was headed towards goal by a diving Jesús Ferreira and then tapped in by Jordan Morris.
JMoooooooooooooooooooooo!Off to a FLYING start at Lumen Field 🔥
Danny Musovski added to the tally for the Sounders, scoring from the top of the box in the 41st minute, putting in what looked like the death nail for Minnesota. Though that did not remain the case for long as right after stoppage time was announced Nectarios Triantis got Minnesota’s first goal of the night.
Every comeback starts with just one goal.
— x – Minnesota United FC (@mnufc.com) 2025-11-04T05:03:54.676378Z
A few minutes after Triantis goal, the Loons struck again when Robin Lod scored from inside the box after getting slipped a pass from Bongi Hlongwane.
Right place, Robin time. Lod pokes it past Frei to bring us within one before half.
— x – Minnesota United FC (@mnufc.com) 2025-11-04T05:06:43.408028Z
Heading into the second half of play each side made single sub with Morris Duggan replacing Nico Romero for Minnesota, while Kalani Kossa-Rienzi replaced Álex Roldán for Seattle. From there on the Sounders slowed the match to a crawling pace as often as they were able. Taking time on free kicks, goal kicks, time wasting on throws and corners, the Sounders did everything to Minnesota that the Loons did to the Sounders the previous Monday night.
Kelvin Yeboah came on to replace Wil Trapp in the 65th minute and Minnesota started peppering Seattle with shots, though not with the same quality as the first half. MNUFC had four shots in the first half and four in just the first two-thirds of the second half. The problem for Minnesota is only one of those four shots ended up going on target. Minnesota made a triple sub in the 79th minute, hoping to change the tide in the match with Gressel, Dotson, and Harvey having replaced Rosales, Diaz, and Lod.
All of the subs and shots would be for not as Obed Vargas clinched himself a brace and a Seattle with an 86th minute goal for the hosts. The win for Seattle guarantees a game three in the series. That series decider will be played at Allianz Field in St. Paul on Saturday 8 November at 3pm. The winner of game three will advance to the MLS Cup Playoffs second round to be played on 22 November.
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